Spotify to raise global premium subscription prices in September

Spotify has announced that it will increase the price of its Premium subscription plan in several regions worldwide, starting in September 2025.

The decision is part of the streaming giant’s broader strategy to sustain profitability as it faces mounting operational and licensing costs.

The company announced that the monthly fee for its Individual Premium plan will increase by € 0.01, rising from €10.99 to €11.99 in select countries.

Spotify premium subscription increase will affect users in regions including Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America. However, users in the United States and Canada will not be impacted by the latest pricing adjustments.

According to Spotify, affected users will begin receiving email notifications from August, with details about when the new pricing takes effect in their specific market.

The company emphasised that the changes are aimed at supporting continued investment in product features, content variety, and overall platform improvements.

“We know how frustrating it can be if you’re caught up in any of this. That’s why we’re investing heavily in tech and resources to detect artificial streams and enforcing policies quickly to deter bad actors.

“This is something we take seriously at every level, all around the world. And our efforts are working,” said Bryan Johnson, Spotify’s Head of Artist & Industry Partnerships, International.

Johnson also confirmed that when “significant artificial streaming is detected,” labels and distributors would be charged per track. The cost of these penalties could ultimately be passed down to artists, many of whom may have been unaware of the illegitimate streaming activity in the first place.

Andreea Gleeson, CEO of Tunecore, reiterated this warning: “It’s very, very important that we protect the ecosystem so that artists with legitimate listeners benefit from their hard work. Our goal is to get more money into the pockets of real artists with real fans.”

That goal has seen huge progress in Nigeria. According to recent reports, Nigerian artists earned over ₦58 billion in royalties from Spotify in 2024, more than double what they made in 2023, and a fivefold increase from 2022.

This marks the third time in recent years that Spotify has raised subscription fees. Despite the streaming platform’s massive user base, now boasting over 700 million users globally, with nearly 250 million of them paying subscribers, Spotify has struggled to maintain healthy profit margins, largely due to increasing royalty payments and staff-related expenses.

In a recent earnings report, Spotify cited cost pressures related to taxes and salaries, particularly in European markets, as major factors behind the price hike. The announcement follows a disappointing financial forecast that saw investor confidence waver, although the stock rebounded slightly after news of the price change broke.

While some users may view the increase as marginal, Spotify’s cumulative revenue from even a €1 price jump is expected to be significant, given the scale of its subscriber base. Analysts note that such moves are becoming more common across the industry, with competitors like Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music also having raised their subscription prices in the past year.

The move also coincides with Spotify’s plans to introduce a new tier, Spotify Music Pro, later in 2025. The forthcoming Spotify premium subscription offering is expected to include high-fidelity audio, AI-driven remixing tools, and exclusive content. While details are still limited, the service will come at an additional cost, further segmenting Spotify’s user base.

Spotify maintains that despite the price increase, it remains committed to delivering value to its users. The company argues that its ongoing investments in podcasting, music discovery features, and user interface enhancements justify the modest rate adjustment. Still, the rising cost of digital subscriptions may weigh heavily on users in developing markets.

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